You'll find decadence in all the little moments – like sipping fine wine in a candle-lit, oak-panelled restaurant or watching the sunset from the privacy of your own hot tub.

Get away from the everyday, without having to travel to a far-flung destination, by choosing one of these luxury hotels in Waterford. The picks on this list, from modern cliff-side havens to 16th-century castles, capture different aspects of this diverse county.

Check out the fascinating Viking and Norman history at local museums, set your sights on the winding Copper Coast, then get back to your chosen luxury hotel to rest those busy legs.

A cliff-top luxury hotel in Waterford with stunning sea views

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With your room’s floor-to-ceiling windows letting in the twinkling blues of the water, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re at sea at the Cliff House Hotel! Feel the breeze on your face as you sip a cup of coffee on your terrace or balcony (if you can bring yourself to roll out of your super king-size bed, that is). Travelling with girlfriends? The Cliff Cottage sleeps up to six adults. Expect a balance between cosiness and elegance here with details like a wood-burning fire and hand-picked artwork. This is all set against a dreamy backdrop of woods in fresh white with soft furnishings in pale blues. You’ll also have your own farmhouse-style kitchen – although the acclaimed restaurant is only a short stroll away.

The water also inspires the hotel’s spa, the Well by the Sea, where you can see the Ardmore coastline from the glass-fronted infinity swimming pool. If it’s full tide, climb over the stones to the outdoor rock pool. Back indoors, you’ll discover a detoxifying sauna and steam room, as well as airy treatment rooms facing the sea. Let your muscles melt with a hot-stone massage or rejuvenate tired skin with a thermal clay mask facial.

Head to the Michelin-starred House Restaurant for tasty, local fare in an informal setting, given warmth by plush tartan chairs and soft carpets. Tantalise your taste-buds with ocean-fresh dishes, like Atlantic Halibut served with beetroot and dill.

Cliff House Hotel

A luxury hotel in Waterford on its own private island

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Whether your idea of luxury is period-style four-poster beds and antique furniture, or Scandinavian minimalism and private terraces, take your pick at the 16th-century Waterford Castle Hotel. Rooms and suites here celebrate the castle’s history with their original windows and heavy, textured curtains (handy for keeping the light out when you’re looking forward to a lie-in). The self-catering lodges are spacious, too: expect open-plan kitchens and verandas overlooking a golf course where you can often spot wild deer. To make sure an important birthday or anniversary goes off in unforgettable style, it could only be the Presidential Suite with its traditional four-poster bed. Waterford Crystal chandeliers cascade from the ceiling and there’s a clawfoot bath in the en-suite.

In the Munster Room Restaurant, which has two AA Rosettes and is mentioned in the Michelin Guide, you’ll eat thought-provoking combinations such as mackerel served with smoked-potato ravioli in a rich broth. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, go for afternoon tea. Tuck into treats like delicate coronation chicken finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones in the conservatory with its views of the hotel’s 310-acre estate.

Because it’s on its own island, Waterford Castle’s surrounded by rugged coastlines, tangles of woodland and manicured parkland. Show your competitive spirit with a game of tennis or croquet, get up close and personal with majestic birds of prey on a falconry experience, or try your hand at clay pigeon shooting.

Hotel Waterford Castle

A luxury hotel in Waterford in an elegant 18th-century mansion

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Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Resort is where you can get in the mood for some serious pampering. Sink into the 17-metre indoor swimming pool, lie back in the sauna, then make the most of the Roman-inspired tiled Jacuzzi. You’ll have your therapy in a treatment room scented with essential oils and bathed in candlelight.

The Roseville Rooms are a refined setting for dinner or Sunday lunch. Ooh and ahh over the decor in the two original drawing rooms – all brocade wallpaper and rose gold accents – or sit in the sunshine in the light-filled conservatory. You can treat yourself to comforting classics like goat’s cheese parfait, then savour a decadent dessert like double chocolate mousse.

When it comes to rooms, choose between options in the original part of the mansion or the new wing. The latter have views over the thick woodland as well as Prija toiletries, plus warm, homemade flapjacks on arrival. In the traditional room, you’ll have panoramas of the golf course, rich espresso from your own machine, and extra-soft robes and slippers. Celebrating? Splash out on a Master Superior Room, where curtains, cushions and throws in vivid hues stand out against an elegant neutral palette. Start your days away pampering yourself in the en-suite with lavish Voya Elite Spa amenities, then cosy up in an armchair to catch up with the morning papers while snacking on macarons made by the kitchen’s pastry chef. This is the life!

Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Resort

A city centre luxury hotel in Waterford for exploring the sights

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When you drop your bags at the Granville Hotel, you’ll feel like you’re in a traditional country manor. Rooms are influenced by the building’s 18th-century history, with dark woods, antique furniture and vintage window dressings (the ideal setting for your fave retro outfit). In a River View room, you can slip out of your irresistibly soft king-size bed to catch the sun rising over the River Suir. Or pull out all the stops in a Penthouse Suite. Each is individually designed with textured fabrics and features a private balcony. Sip on a glass of prosecco in your seating area before heading for dinner, or wrap up in the bathrobe and slippers to nibble on the tasty biscuits.

Visiting on a weekend? The hotel’s Bianconi Restaurant is just the place for Sunday lunch. Begin with something light and refreshing, like a seafood salad, before tucking into juicy roasted sirloin or buttery turkey with herby stuffing. Afterwards, head to the Thomas Francis Meagher Bar for a nightcap in cosy surroundings punctuated by reddish brown leather.

The Granville Hotel’s location means it’s oh-so-easy to discover Waterford’s top attractions. Start at the Waterford Greenway, an old, scenic railway line running between the city and Dungarvan. These days, it’s used for off-road cycling, hiking and lazy walks. Next, take a tour of the House of Waterford Crystal to learn more about the city’s most famous export (and perhaps pick up a souvenir or two).

Granville Hotel

A luxury hotel in Waterford right by an idyllic beach

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The Majestic Hotel overlooks the peaceful shores of Tramore Bay. Steps from here, you can slide down the dunes, dig your toes into golden sand or go for a paddle if you’re feeling brave! In the summer, try your hand at surfing or have a hike along the coastal path.

It’s all about getting away from the everyday in the rooms here. Go for a sea-facing option or one with a private balcony for views of the crashing waves. All rooms are also designed with comfort in mind: think ultra-soft bedding, oversized fabric headboards and a fresh, airy interior. There are also family rooms if you’re weekending with the girls. Create the ideal ending to your day with a stay in the Lakeview Suite. Huge windows open out onto views of Brownstown Head and in the bathroom, you’ll find an opulent free-standing tub and double vanity units for plenty of space to get ready for evenings out. Away with your other half? Mood lighting and silver-toned French furniture set the scene for a romantic night in.

Dinner is in the Taste-of-Ireland awarded Garden Room Restaurant. Take a seat out on the terrace or in the fresh, botanical-themed restaurant with its cream upholstery and deep-green plants for dishes made from fine local produce. Mornings see a full Irish breakfast put on here – we’re talking succulent sausages, crispy rashers and soft, buttery mushrooms, all served with coffee or a cuppa, of course.

Majestic Hotel

A luxury hotel in Waterford with delicious food and a central location

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When you check in at the sleek Fitzwilton Hotel, make your first stop the Met Bar Café. By day, it’s where you can get your caffeine fix and tuck into satisfying favourites like hearty burgers in fluffy brioche buns or steak sandwiches with sticky onion jam. By night, go for hand-picked wines such as a tart Muscadet and settle in for some live sport on the huge TVs. At Restaurant Chez-K’s, delicious dishes like slow-cooked pork belly and lamb shank with red wine jus are ready to satisfy your appetite.

You’re ideally positioned for exploring at the Fitzwilton Hotel. A 10-minute stroll takes you right into the heart of the city’s shopping district, John Roberts Square. Why not indulge in some retail therapy at the Book Centre or the Waterford City Food and Craft Market? Alternatively, go for a stroll around the old woodlands of Mount Congreve Gardens.

Double rooms at the Fitzwilton are decorated in warm shades of orange and textured materials in contemporary geometric patterns. King-size beds with sumptuous mattresses, plus pamper-worthy toiletries and plush armchairs, amp up the luxury factor. Celebrating a special occasion? Go for the hotel’s fourth-floor Penthouse Suite. With a separate bedroom and living area, you’ll have plenty of space to spread out. There’s a Jacuzzi in the bathroom for blissed-out evenings with a glass of fizz, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows for admiring those city views.